Sample

Chapter 30

He pretended not to hear the persistent, obstinate ringing of the telephone as he put his pillow over his head. He had finally fallen asleep at the first signs of dawn and now found it almost impossible to open his eyes but the ringing didn't stop and he finally reached out for the telephone.

\"Yoni,\" he heard the familiar, monotonous voice on the other end of the line. \"I'm glad you're still in Haifa. There was another suicide bombing a few minutes ago.\"

\"What!\" said Yoni now fully awake. \"Where?\"

\"At a special function for women held at the Tel Aviv Cinema Theatre.\"

\"What's the damage?\"

\"We don't know yet, but it was a big explosion and we assume there are many casualties.\"

\"Those dirty, stinking bastards!\"

\"I need you Yoni. Could you be here in an hour?\"

\"All right,\" he said as he put down the phone.

He quickly went into the shower to wash and shave while switching on the radio. The reporters' voices were sometimes muffled by the sounds of the amulance sirens and the screams of the injured. More casualties were being reported every few minuts, the true figures would not be known till many hours later.

Yoni came out of the bathroom, got dressed and switched on the television. The scenes appearing on the small screen were hard to absorb. It was like watching a horror movie, except that this was not a movie but live coverage.

Suddenly he remembered that Tamar had gone to cover the event and he broke out in a sweat.

He picked up the telephone and tried her cellular phone but it was disconnected. He picked up the telephone again and called the emergency number in Haifa.

\"I can't come to the meeting today.\"

\"What, why not?\"

\"I have to go to Tel Aviv to the scene of the bombing.\"

\"Are you crazy? We need you here.\"

\"You don't understand. Tamar went to cover the event and I cannot get in touch with her. I must find her\", he said hysterically.

\"All right. Take it easy. Call me as soon as you hear anything. I've received something urgent that you must see as soon as possible.\"

\"It will have to wait.\"

\"Of course. Yoni, I'm sure that Tamar is all right.\"

\"I hope so.\"

He collected his things and rushed out of the room. As he stepped out of the hotel he hailed a taxi to the office parking lot to pick up his car. He was anxious to get to Tel Aviv but was terrified of what he may learn.

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